Preserving Your Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors add value to your home. They are a timeless flooring choice that coordinates well with a broad range of interior décor styles. Here are tips that will help you care for hardwood flooring. This material can stand up to years of dirt, leaves, crumbs, and other household debris with the proper cleaning techniques.
Sweep Daily
One of the best ways to care for hardwood floors is to clean them regularly with a soft-bristled broom or dry microfiber sweeper. Even if you don’t wear shoes in the house and tidy up crumbs after spills, daily sweeping will ensure that debris doesn’t have a chance to settle in the cracks or wood grain.
Limit Exposure to Moisture to Care for Hardwood Flooring
To care for hardwood flooring, limit its exposure to moisture as much as possible. Humidity can lead to floorboards shrinking or swelling. Over time, too much water can lead to cupping.
Never use a steam mop or soaking wet mop when cleaning. Instead, use a damp microfiber mop with a cleaner specifically designed for use on wood. Limit mopping with a cleanser to once a month unless a significant stain or big spill occurs.
Watch for Issues
When you sweep your floors every day, stay alert for signs that something is wrong. If humidity levels in your home are too low or fluctuate a great deal, your hardwood flooring could split or develop gaps or cracks. Look for changes to the color or condition of the wood, as this could indicate a moisture problem.
Use Furniture Pads to Care for Hardwood Flooring
Furniture pads are inexpensive and designed to prevent chairs, tables, benches, bookshelves, and heavy furniture from scraping hardwood flooring. To care for hardwood floors, attach pads to the feet of your furniture, and you will limit the potential for scratching and damaging the wood.
Protect Your Floor
Daily habits make a big difference in the overall condition of your flooring. Keep a shoe rack by the door to encourage everyone to take their shoes off as soon as they come indoors.
Don’t wear high heels on hardwood flooring, as this can lead to pitting and hard-to-repair dents. If you have dogs or cats, keep their nails trimmed to prevent scratches on the flooring.
KAM Inspection Services offers inspection services to home buyers and sellers in Central Alabama. Contact us to request an appointment.